University of Surrey leads on patient safety
Thursday 15 July 2010
The University of Surrey showed recently that it is still leading in improving patient safety. The latest volume of the journal Applied Ergonomics (see http://bit.ly/brgK9K) is a special edition featuring papers from around the world that have researched the relationship between human factors/ergonomics and the vast problems surrounding patient safety. Professor Peter Buckle, Visiting Professor at the Postgraduate Medical School, co-edited this edition that includes recent studies on medication errors, (including the contribution of design failures to fatalities associated with methotrexate use), improving cardiac surgical care, design of space in acute hospitals and the safe use of medicines in the home.
Professor Buckle indicated that “Medication errors, in particular, are a leading cause of harm to patients. The University of Surrey has helped highlight the problems occurring outside of the immediate healthcare environment, notably in the home. We have also shown how better user centred design of medication might enhance safety significantly.”
The figure illustrates problems for users of a drug called Methotrexate that is usually prescribed to be taken once a week. Sadly, it is often confused with other medication and has led to a series of accidental deaths. The research by the Universities of Surrey and Cambridge led to a national alert being put out by the National Patient Safety Agency regarding its use.
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
